Using advanced genomic techniques, a team of researchers led by Dr Hua (Emily) Ying of The Australian National University (ANU) and Prof David Miller of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (Coral CoE) at James Cook University (JCU), have found that the group of corals classified as “robust,” which includes a number of the brain corals and mushroom corals, have a key physiological advantage over “complex” corals, including common branching corals such as the staghorn coral.
Using advanced genomic techniques, a team of researchers led by Dr Hua (Emily) Ying of The Australian National University (ANU) and Prof David Miller of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (Coral CoE) at James Cook University (JCU), have found that the group of corals classified as “robust,” which includes a number of the brain corals and mushroom corals, have a key physiological advantage over “complex” corals, including common branching corals such as the staghorn coral.
In a new paper published today in the prestigious journal Genome Biology, the researchers report that “robust” corals possess a unique capacity to generate an “essential” amino acid.
“Amino acids are the building blocks of life,” said lead author Dr Emily Ying of the ANU Research School of Biology.
“They are crucial, for example, in repairing tissue or growing new tissue. But, generating amino acids is energetically costly for animals, so they usually only generate 11 of the 20 required for life.”
“The remaining nine amino acids are called the ‘essential’ amino acids because they must be supplied by the animal’s diet. For corals, this includes tiny drifting animals known as ‘zooplankton.’”
Read more at ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
Image: New research suggests that "robust" corals including brain corals, may be more resilient, to bleaching than "complex" corals such as the branching staghorns. Orpheus Island, Great Barrier Reef. CREDIT: ARC CoE for Coral Reef Studies / Tory Chase
